Testing times for UK laboratories
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The UK Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) is urging the Department of Health to delay by at least one year the regionalisation of NHS microbiology laboratory services. While welcoming government proposals centred around the regionalised presence of the new Health Protection Agency (HPA), it has expressed grave concern at the need for further discussion on "vital aspects" of the transfer process. These range from the transfer of functions, including equipment evaluation, surveillance and surge capacity, to the financing of the transferred laboratories.